About Us

The Rev. Dr. Michael Piret

27th Rector, Christ Church Oyster Bay

The Rev. Dr. Michael Piret (rhymes with Chevrolet) is a native of Buffalo, New York. Michael studied English Literature at SUNY Fredonia and the University of Michigan, before crossing the Atlantic in 1983 on a one-year graduate scholarship to Merton College, Oxford University. One year in the United Kingdom somehow turned into 32; Michael finally moved back to the US in January 2016, called to serve as the twenty-seventh Rector of Christ Church. (In the intervening decades he continued his studies at Oxford, then trained for ordination at Edinburgh Theological College, now known as the Scottish Episcopal Institute.)

Ordained Deacon (1992) and Priest (1993) at Inverness Cathedral in Scotland, Michael served a happy curacy in the Highlands, until he was called back to Oxford as Dean of Divinity (that is, Chaplain) of Magdalen College, providing pastoral care for those of all faiths and none, and conducting daily services in Magdalen’s glorious 15th-century chapel. He served there for over 21 years and came alarmingly close to being the longest-serving Dean of Divinity in the 557-year history of the college. Alongside his regular duties, he especially enjoyed speaking to groups about C.S. Lewis (a Fellow of Magdalen) and presenting a number of installments of ‘Prayer for the Day,’ an early-morning religious broadcast on BBC Radio.

Michael is married to Dr Siân Piret, a medical research scientist who works in the Department of Medicine (Nephrology) at Stony Brook University. Michael and Siân are live-in staff for their handsome Burmese cat, Fergus, who kindly shares the Christ Church Rectory with them. Fergus often reminds them of the indignity he endured being flown across the ocean as ‘live animal cargo.’ Compensation comes in the form of cat food and treats, accounting for his slightly chubby physique.